Zero Number (0)
Zero number definition
Zero is a number used in mathematics to describe no quantity or
null quantity.
When there are 2 apples on the table and we take the 2 apples, we
can say that there are zero apples on the table.
The zero number is not positive number and not negative number.
The zero is also a placeholder digit in other numbers (e.g:
40,103, 170).
Is zero a number?
Zero is a number. It is not positive nor negative number.
Zero digit
The zero digit is used as a placeholder when writing numbers.
For example:
204 = 2×100+0×10+4×1
Zero number history
Who invented the zero number?
The modern 0 symbol was invented in India in the 6-th century,
used later by the Persians and Arabs and later in Europe.
Symbol of zero
The zero number is denoted with the
0 symbol.
The Arabic numeral system uses the
٠ symbol.
Zero number properties
x represents any number.
| Operation |
Rule |
Example |
Addition |
x + 0 = x |
3 + 0 = 3 |
Subtraction |
x - 0 = x |
3 - 0 = 3 |
Multiplication |
x × 0 = 0 |
5 × 0 = 0 |
Division |
0 ÷ x = 0
, when x ≠ 0 |
0 ÷ 5 = 0 |
|
x ÷ 0 is undefined |
5 ÷ 0 is
undefined |
Exponentiation |
0 x
= 0 |
05
= 0 |
|
x 0
= 1 |
50 =
1 |
Root |
√0 =
0 |
|
|
|
logb(0)
is undefined |
|
 |
|
|
|
0! = 1 |
|
Sine |
sin 0º = 0 |
|
Cosine |
cos 0º = 1 |
|
Tangent |
tan 0º = 0 |
|
|
|
0' = 0 |
|
|
|
∫ 0 dx = 0 + C |
|
 |
|
Zero addition
Addition of a number plus zero is equal to the number:
x + 0 = x
For example:
5 + 0 = 5
Zero subtraction
Subtraction of a number minus zero is equal to the number:
x - 0 = x
For example:
5 - 0 = 5
Multiplication by zero
Multiplication of a number times zero is equal to zero:
x × 0 = 0
For example:
5 × 0 = 0
Number divided by zero
Division of a number by zero is not defined:
x ÷ 0 is undefined
For example:
5 ÷ 0 is undefined
Zero divided by a number
Division of a zero by a number is zero:
0 ÷ x = 0
For example:
0 ÷ 5 = 0
Number to the zero power
The power of a number raised by zero is one:
x0 = 1
For example:
50 = 1
Logarithm of zero
The base b logarithm of zero is undefined:
logb(0)
is undefined
There is no number we can raise the base b with to get zero.
Only the limit of the base b logarithm of x, when x converges
zero is minus infinity:

Sets that contain zero
Zero is an element of the natural numbers, integer numbers, real numbers
and complex numbers sets:
| Set |
Set membership notation |
| Natural numbers (non negative) |
0 ∈ ℕ0 |
| Integer numbers |
0 ∈ ℤ |
| Real numbers |
0 ∈ ℝ |
| Complex numbers |
0 ∈ ℂ |
| Rational numbers |
0 ∈ ℚ |
Is zero even or odd number?
The set of even numbers is:
{... ,-10, -8, -6, -4, -2, 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ...}
The set of odd numbers is:
{... ,-9, -7, -5, -3, -1, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, ...}
Zero is an integer multiple of 2:
0 × 2 = 0
Zero is a member of the even numbers set:
0 ∈ {2k,
k∈ℤ}
So zero is an even number and not an odd number.
Is zero a natural number?
There are two definitions for the natural numbers set.
The set of non negative integers:
ℕ0
= {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,...}
The set of positive integers:
ℕ1
= {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,...}
Zero is a member of the set of non negative integers:
0 ∈ ℕ0
Zero is not a member of the set of positive integers:
0 ∉ ℕ1
Is zero a whole number?
There are three definitions for the whole numbers:
The set of integer numbers:
ℤ =
{0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,...}
The set of non negative integers:
ℕ0
= {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,...}
The set of positive integers:
ℕ1
= {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,...}
Zero is a member of the set of integer numbers and the set of non
negative integers:
0 ∈ ℤ
0 ∈ ℕ0
Zero is not a member of the set of positive integers:
0 ∉ ℕ1
Is zero an integer number?
The set of integer numbers:
ℤ =
{0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,...}
Zero is a member of the set of integer numbers:
0 ∈ ℤ
So zero is an integer number.
Is zero a rational number?
A rational number is a number that can be expressed as the
quotient of two integer numbers:
ℚ =
{n/m; n,m∈ℤ}
Zero can be written as a quotient of two integer numbers.
For example:
0 = 0/3
So zero is a rational number.
Is zero a positive number?
A positive number is defined as a number that is greater than
zero:
x > 0
For example:
5 > 0
Since zero is not greater than zero, it is not a positive number.
Is zero a prime number?
The number 0 is not a prime number.
Zero is not a positive number and has infinite number of
divisors.
The lowest prime number is 2.
See also